Electrical terminal block



Dec. 13, 1932. J BLAKESLEE 1,891,212

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL BLOCK File M y 16. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 13, 1932. J BLAKESLEE 1,891,212

ELECTRICAL TERMINAL BLOCK Filed May 16, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1o 7 7/7//// //1 j i (I up 5 1 1 /7 22 i E. r- O /Z 4 1:1 D i O 0 a Q 2 I O 0 o o o 1 A5 7/// //Y VE/VTOA Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HENRY J'.=

v PANY,OF

i O! IABLIBOBO, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB TO THE STATES CO1!- HABTFOBD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT ELECTRICAL BLOCK Application filed Kay 16,

This invention relates to e uipment for connecting and disconnecting e ectrical conductors, such as is used on switch boards and in testing boxes located between meters and other electrical apparatus, and is an improve ment on the structure set forth by me in Patent' No. 1,836,951 issued December 15, 1931. In the block of that patent there are two overlapping fingers with a conducting yoke slidable on the upper finger and adapted to embrace the under finger for closing the circuit. In the improved construction herein illustrated the relation of the fingers is altered and the connecting element is comprised of two slidable conducting lates which lie on opposite sides of and sli e on the lower finger, the upper plate occupying the s ace between the two fingers when the circuit is closed.

The improved construction is simple and cheaper to manufacture and assemble than the prior construction, there is better alignment between the conducting parts, it is safer and easier to manipulate as the parts are visible and accessible and the up r finger, which is most ex osed, is dead w en the circuit is open. Shou d the space between 'the fingers be too constricted the operator by pressing a tool against the inner fin er can spring that finger sufficiently to al ow the 'connectin plate to enter between the fingers without an er of accident. Furthermore, the improve construction lends itself to a reduction in time, labor and cost of meter installation. The base of the block may be made separable and a section with one finger fastened in a service box and connected by the electrician of the wiring contractor, and the section with the other finger mounted in the meter terminal chamber and when the customer is read for service it is only neces-.

as for the utility com any employee to thi'iist the meter terminal chamber into the service box until the sections of the block base register.

In the accom anying drawin Fig. 1 is a side view of a b ock that embodies the invention with the circuit closed. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the circuit open. Fig. 3 is a plan of the upper conducting finger, Fig. 4

1988. Serial No. 811,488.

is a plan of the lower conducting finger. Fig. shows a plan of the blank from which the shdable connector may be formed, also a plan and side view of the slidable connector after it is formed. Fig. 6 illustrates means for preventin the disengagement of the parts, should t e block be located in a place where-it is subjected to considerable vibration. Fig. 7 is a side view, with the circuit closed, showing the relation of the parts when one section of a separable base is located in a service box and the other section is mounted in a meter terminal chamber. Fig. 8 is a similar view with the meter member separated from the service box member. Fig. 9 shows a plan of the separable block with the parts disconnected.

The base 1 of the block illustrated is formed of insulation and is of a width and len h depending u on the capacity of and num er of circuit pat s that are to be connected. The block shown has a ledge 2 extending across one edge and a ledge 3 extending across the other edge of the front face, the former ledge being somewhat higher than the latter. One or more conducting fingers 4 are fastened to the ledge 2 and one or more conducting fingers 5 are fastened to the ledge 3. These fingers are arranged to project in parallel lanes with the end of a finger 4, which is s otted, overlapptigg the end of the finger 5 which is also slot The connector is comprised of two spaced plates 6 and 7 of conducting material thatof the. finger 5 and the width of the neck is a proximately that of the slot in that finger. '1 e plates are perforated and threaded and turning in these perforations is a screw 9. The distance between the overlappin ends of the fin ers 4 and 5 is approximate y t e thickness 0 the plate 6.

When the screw 9 is loosened the connector may be slid along the finger 5, being ided b the neck 8 that fits the slot in the ger. 1 hr closing the circuit the connector is moved so that the plate 6 enters the space between the overlapping ends of tho fingers, the shank of the screw entering the slot in tion in the service the end of the finger 4, and when the screw is tightened the fingers and plates are clamped together. To open the circuit the screw is loosened and the connector moved along the finger 5 away from the end of the finger 4. Should the block be located between wiring and a meter the meter leads are preferably connected to the fingers 4, and the wire terminals connected to the fingers 5.

The base of this block may be divided between the ledges so as to provide two sections 10 and 11 that have their edges fitted together and registered by suitable means, such as dowel ins 12, Fig. 7. With this construction t e section 10 withthe fin ers 5 upon which the connectors slide may e secured to the bottom wall 13 of a service box, and the section 11 with the fingers 4 may be mounted on the back wall 14 of the terminal chamber of a meter as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. If this arrangement is employed the end wall 15 of the service box is provided with an opening which will receive the end of the meter terminal chamber and allow the sections of the block to be brought together with the fingers overlapping so that the connector may, when the cover 16.0f the service box and the cover 17 of the terminal chamber are open, be moved for connecting or disconnecting the fingers.

It is preferable to have the fin er 4 extend from the block section 11 throug insulation 18, into the meter proper and be provided with a bindin screw 19 as illustrated in Fi s. 7 and 8. A s eeve 20 may be attached to t e section of the block that is in the terminal chamber to allow the connection of a conductor in the usual way, should the other block section not be employed, and the screw 21 provided for this purpose may have a bore 22 for receiving the terminal of a testing instrument lead. It is evident that the parts of such an arrangement could, if desired, be reversed, that is, the section of the base with the sliding connector could be mounted in the meter terminal cthamber and the other see- In smaller sizes of blocks such as may be used in generating stations and other places where v bration 's considerable and there is a ossibility of a oosening of screws, the end 0 the upper finger may be bent, as shown at 23, Fi 6, so as to hold the connector in place shoul the 'clampin screw become loose.

The divided bloc construction, with one section in a meter and the other in a service box, ermits the wiring of a building to be comp eted and the meters to be installed at any future time by simply sliding the meter into place in the service box and joining the fingers by the clamping connector.

I The rovision of a meter with a block section 0 the character described may be accomplished at but a slightly increased meter cost above the construction commonly employed, but this increased cost is more than overcome by the reduction in the time and labor required for equip ing the meter at the factory, and in the insta lation' of a meter so equipped. At any time whether these blocks are ocated in a meter terminal chamber, or located with a section in a terminal chamber and a section in a service box, the covers can be removed and such connectors easily and safely shifted along the fingers on which they are mounted as will permit tests to be made.

The invention claimed is:

.1. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted on said base with their ends overlapping and spaced from each other and a connector mounted on one of said fingers and slidable thereon between circuit opening and circuit closing positions, said connector having two plate portions, one on each side of the finger upon which it slides, and one adapted to pass into and out of the space between the overlapping ends of the fingers, and means for bin ing said connector and lingers into electrical connection when the connector is in circuit closing position.

2. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted on said. base with their ends overlapping and spaced from each other, and a connector mounted on the under one of said fingers and slidable thereon between circuit opening and circuit closing positions, said connector having two plate portions, one on each side of said under finger upon which it slides, and one adapted to pass into and out of the space between the overlapping ends of the fingers, and means for binding said connector and fingers into electrical connection when the connector is in circuit closing position.

3. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted on said base with their ends spaced from each other, and a connector mounted on one of said fingers and slidable thereon between circuit opening and circuit closing positions, said connector having two plate portions, one on each side of the finger upon which it slides, and one adapted to connect the ends of the fingers in Cl1( uit closing position and a single clamping means for binding said connector plates and fingers into electrical connection when the connector is in circuit closing position.

4. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two opposing conducting fingers supported on em base, a contact and clamping assembly slidably mounted on one finger and movable into and out of engagement with the other finger between a circuit opening and a circuit closing position, said.assembly including two plates one on each side of the finger on which the assembly is movable and a single clamping means for binding said fingers and assembly into electrical connection when in the circuit closin sition.

5. An electrical termina b ock comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted on said base with their ends spaced from each other, and a connector slidably attached to one finger and movable thereon into and out of engagement with the other finger, said connector having two plate portions embracing the finger upon which it slides, and a single clamping means for binding said connector and fingers into electrical connection when the connector is engaged with both fingers. V

6. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted on said base with their ends spaced from each other and a connector slidably mounted on one of said fingers, said connector having plates that embrace both sides of the fin er upon which it slides, and a single means or clamping said connector and fingers into electric'al connection.

7. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted on said base with their ends spaced from each other, and two plates slidable on one of said fingers, one on each side of the fin er upon which it slides, and a single means or bmdin g said plates and fingers into electrical connection in circuit closing position.

8. An electrical terminal block comprising a sectional base, two conducting fingers, one mounted on each section of the base with? their ends spaced from each other, and a connector mounted on one of said fingers and slidable thereon between circuit opening and connection when circuit closing positions, said connector comprising two plate portions, one on each side of the finger upon which it slides, and one adapted to bridge the space between the ends of the fingers, and a single means for clamping said connector and fingers into electrical the connector is in circuit closin position.

9. n electrical terminal block comprising a sectional base, two conducting fingers, one mounted on each section of the base with their ends overlapping and spaced from each other, and a connector mounted on one of said fingers and slidable thereon between circuit opening and circuit closing positions, said connector having two plate portions, one on each side of the finger upon which it slides, and one adapted to pass into and out of the space between the overla fingers, and means for bin ing said connector and fingers into electrical connection-when the connector is in circuit closin position. a

' HENRY J. B AKESLEE.

ping ends' of the DISCLAIMER.

1,891,212.-Hm J. Blakeslce, Marlboro, Conn. ELECTRICAL TERMINAL BLocxh Patent ated December 13, 1932. Disclaimer filed April 9, 1935, by. the assignee, The States Company.

Hereby enters this disclaimer to that part of the claims in said specification which is in the following words, to wit:

3. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted onsaid base with' their ends spaced from each other, anda connector mounted on one of said fin ers and slidable thereon between circuit openin and circuit closing positions, said connector having two plate portions, one on eac side of the finger upon which it slides, and one adapted to connect the ends of the fingers in circuit closing position and a single clampmg means for bindingsaid connector plates and fingers 1nto electrical connection when the connector is in circuit closing position.

4. An electrical terminal block comprisin a base, two opposin conducting fingers supported on said base, a contact and cfiimping assembly slida ly moun on one finger and movable into and out of engagement with the other finger between a circuit ofiening and a circuit closin position, said assembly including two lates one on see sideof the fin er on whic the assembly is-movable and a single am ing means for binding sai fingers and assembly into electrical connection when m the circuit closing osition. L

5. An electrical terminal block comp a base, two conduct ng. fingers mounted on said base with their ends spaced-{ in each other, and a connector slidably attached to one finger andmovable thereon into and out of engagement with the other finger, said connector having two plate portions embracing the finger uponwhich it sli es, and a single clam ing means for bindin sa 1d connector and fingers into electrical connection when the connector is engage w1th both fingers.

6. An electrical terminal block comprising a base, two conducting fingers mounted on said base with their ends spaced from each other and a connector sh'dahl mounted on oneof said fingers, said connector having plates that embrace both s1 es of the finger upon which it slides, and a single means for clamping said connector and fingers into electrical connection. 1

7. An electrical terminal block com rising a base, two conducting mounted on said base with their ends space from each other, and two pla es shdable on one of said fingers, one on each side of the finger upon which t sl des and a s ngle means for; binding said plates and fingers into' ectricalconnection 1n clrcmt closing position. v

. [Oflidd 0mm April 30, 1935.1 

